53 West 85th Street

About this property

With five sun-flooded floors on a prime Central Park block, this 18 foot wide single-family Queen Anne-style home is move-in ready for its lucky new owner. A stone’s throw away from Central Park, 53 West 85th has a gorgeous brick facade featuring a pitched gable roof line, bay windows on the garden and parlor floors and an alternating pattern of two and three windows on the upper floors. Restored original details abound, including five original and unique decorative fireplaces (which could be made wood-burning). The flexible floor plan offers ten rooms, seven possible bedrooms, four full bathrooms and a powder room. Extraordinarily low taxes make this one of the townhouse market’s best current offerings and values.

Entering under the stoop, there is a front room which functions as a “hang-out” room with fireplace, full bathroom and large bay window. This room can double as a guest bedroom and/or the ideal work from home space. Continuing past the powder room is the chef’s eat-in kitchen which includes a six burner range, two ovens, double door refrigerator and dishwasher. Here, in the heart of the home, friends and family can gather round the center island and flow seamlessly to the stunning landscaped garden, well set back from the neighbors and complemented by floor-to-ceiling glass.

Entered via the main entrance up the stoop, the parlor floor is a stunner: twelve-foot ceilings, a square living room with views to the lush garden, and an adjacent butler’s pantry and wet bar. Take in the open staircase which ascends to the top of the house, crowned by a gorgeous stained glass skylight. Here as well is the large formal dining room with a bay window overlooking tree-lined West 85th Street.

The primary suite occupies the entire floor, with the south-facing bedroom and an enormous walk-in closet and dressing area leading through to the north-facing room, which can be an office or additional dressing area, or an extension of the primary en suite bathroom.

There are two full-width bedrooms sharing a full bathroom, built-in bookcases and ample closet space.

The top floor, dramatically vaulting with the front gable, has a large north-facing, quiet, a full bathroom, and a large south-facing bedroom or a wonderful. Sun-filled family room with high ceilings.

The rooftop has not yet been built out and could be, creating a gorgeous roof deck with minimal additional effort.

An abundance of rich architectural and historical details combine with current conveniences at 53 West 85th Street. Full deducted central air conditioning, a full floor, full-height basement with high ceilings, cedar closet, plus laundry and storage are additional complements.

Beautifully located in the prime Upper West Side, this special home is proximate to Central Park, the Museum of Natural History, the NY Historical Society, scores of exceptional restaurants and shops and major subway (B,C, 1,2,3) and bus lines.

This is a co-exclusive with Cathy Taub of Sotheby’s International Realty.

Listing courtesy of Ian Slater and Brett Walsdorf